Tributes pour in for Chelsea legend John Hollins, who died aged 76
OBITUARY: In a Chelsea team famed for flair and flamboyance, John Hollins was reliable and dedicated. He was a popular and modest legend at Stamford Bridge
- Chelsea announced that club legend John Hollins has died at the age of 76
- He started at Chelsea aged 15 and would go on to play nearly 600 games
- In the wake of the news, tributes from former team-mates have flooded in
His Chelsea was a team famed for its flamboyance, flair and fondness for King’s Road fashions but when tributes flowed for John Hollins, who died yesterday at the age of 76, they were all about understated quality, reliability and dedication.
Hollins was a popular and modest legend at Stamford Bridge, where he burst on to the scene at 17, was virtually ever-present through one of their great eras and returned to end his playing career with the Blues, making 592 appearances for them — only four men have made more — and scoring 64 goals.
As manager, he led Chelsea out at Wembley and became a familiar match-day presence in the club’s hospitality lounges, recounting stories from days when Hollywood stars such as Steve McQueen and Raquel Welch would drop into the dressing room.
Hollins was born in Surrey and graduated from the club’s prolific junior ranks, as did so many others who formed the basis of that successful team built by Tommy Docherty and developed by Dave Sexton.
An industrious and committed midfielder, he was handed a debut by Docherty at the age of 17 in a League Cup tie against Swindon, and he was only 18 when he won the trophy in 1965, starting in the first leg of the final against Leicester.
Former Chelsea midfielder and former Chelsea manager John Hollins has died at the age of 76
Hollins has been hailed as a ‘hero’ by Chelsea, where he was an icon in the 1970s/80s
He was capped at 20, though would only play once for England, in a friendly against Spain at Wembley. Under Sexton, at Chelsea, he went on to win the FA Cup in 1970 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup a year later.
‘John was a player you could rely on,’ said former Chelsea captain Ron Harris, recalling how Hollins would always be out at the front, striving to improve his best time when the players set off each week on their cross-country run around Epsom Racecourse, starting at the Rubbing House and finishing at Tattenham Corner.
MOST CHELSEA APPEARANCES
Ron Harris – 795
Peter Bonetti – 729
John Terry – 717
Frank Lampard – 648
John Hollins – 592
Hollins also went on to play 151 league games for QPR and 127 for Arsenal
‘You couldn’t say that about everybody, mentioning no names. John never cheated, on or off the field. He gave 100 per cent. There was always a smile on his face whether it was first thing in the morning or last thing at night and he could take Tommy Cooper off to a tee. When I look back all those years it was a privilege to captain a good team and a great bunch of lads.’
After 12 years in the Chelsea team, Hollins joined Sexton at Queens Park Rangers as they finished runners-up behind Liverpool. He spent four years at Loftus Road and moved to Arsenal, where he came on as a substitute and scored in the shootout as they lost on penalties to Valencia in the European Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1980.
Hollins returned to Stamford Bridge in 1983, 20 years after his debut, to help them win promotion back to the top flight under John Neal, who he eventually succeeded as manager.
In his first season, they finished sixth and won the Full Members’ Cup, beating Manchester City 5-4 at Wembley, but they slipped down the league and he was sacked in March 1988, with the team set for relegation.
Chelsea’s players are pictured celebrating after their 1970 FA Cup final victory
Hollins pictured with a young supporter during a visit to Hamley’s in 1972
There were other managerial posts in the lower leagues and non-League, and notable success at Swansea before his return to Chelsea as a match-day ambassador.
He was always polite and approachable, and immaculately dressed, and was still appearing in the corporate lounges with former team-mates last season despite his failing health.
‘He was a hero to the fans and very much that to me,’ said Lord Finkelstein, on behalf of Chelsea’s owners and directors. ‘He was at the heart of one of Chelsea’s greatest teams and as well as contributing to its trophy success he expressed its spirit.
‘He lifted up the team with his play and lit up the Bridge with his smile. He was greatly loved and will be much missed.’
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